Opinion: Obama lifted the shadow of deportation for millions of Americans

It's a blessing that President Obama issued an immigrant affirming executive action so close to Thanksgiving — a day that, in a way, celebrates the arrival and success of some of our land's earliest immigrants.

We and millions like us are thankful that after all the work, the prayers, vigils, phone calls and public meetings that families in our community were able to enjoy their Thanksgiving meal together free from the threat of deportation.

As people of faith, we at POWER Northeast are invigorated by the president's plans to protect hardworking immigrant families from the threat of deportation. By using his existing legal authority, President Obama has helped lift the shadow of deportation and give millions of aspiring Americans the opportunity to contribute to their communities. Now we pray that our leaders in Congress follow up with permanent immigration reform that puts partisan politics aside, is just, and looks out for the welfare of families.

Working within our community, we've seen the fear that our immigrant brothers and sisters feel on a daily basis. They put everything on the line to escape the rampant violence and poverty of their native nations to have a chance at a better life for themselves and their families.

We've met immigrants who work hard, give back to their communities, help their neighbors and promote faith values, and yet they cannot truly integrate with their communities and life while in constant fear of deportation. Every time we hear of a family broken by the immigration system we are saddened. Adding to this sadness are all the times when our nation responds with a heavy hand like we saw in Breitbart, Texas, where hundreds of unaccompanied minors were quite literally warehoused in deplorable conditions.

We all too quickly forget that this is a nation of immigrants, and that the process of immigrating to the U.S. is a complex web of intricacies, contradicting information, predatory opportunists preying upon people in need and decades-long wait times, just to name a few of the obstacles immigrants face. This doesn't even mention the fact that many are children brought here at early ages and only know America as their home.

Now thanks to the president's latest executive action, the parents of legal U.S. residents and citizens who have been living in this country for at least five years, who pay back taxes and who pass a criminal background check will be eligible for work permits and a deportation reprieve.

We are thrilled to see that our message has been echoed throughout the nation and heard by the president; we know the great gift that immigrants are to our society, and we see how essential the family is as the core unit of our society and a great source of moral strength and character. However, we must not forget that this isn't the end.

Any executive action that does not create a just pathway to citizenship for our nation's 11 million undocumented immigrants is not enough.

After President Obama's term in office comes to an end, who knows if the next president will continue to fight for our immigrant community? In order for these aspiring Americans to fully integrate and feel safe in their communities, they should have the chance to become full, citizenship-holding Americans.